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The Beat Goes On
- The Complete Rebus Short Stories
- Narrated by: James Macpherson, Ian Rankin
- Length: 20 hrs and 27 mins
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Mystery
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The Complaints
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: James Macpherson
- Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Nobody likes The Complaints - they're the cops who investigate other cops. Complaints and Conduct Department, to give them their full title, but known colloquially as 'the Dark Side', or simply 'The Complaints'. Malcolm Fox works for The Complaints. He's just had a result, and should be feeling good about himself. But he's middle-aged, sour and unwell.
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Brilliant introduction to Malcolm Fox
- By Helen on 25-01-15
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Knots and Crosses
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: James Macpherson
- Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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'And in Edinburgh of all places. I mean, you never think of that sort of thing happening in Edinburgh, do you...?' 'That sort of thing' is the brutal abduction and murder of two young girls. And now a third is missing, presumably gone to the same sad end. Detective Sergeant John Rebus, smoking and drinking too much, his own young daughter spirited away south by his disenchanted wife, is one of many policemen hunting the killer.
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An uncertain beginning
- By Simon on 02-09-15
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Doors Open
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: James Macpherson
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Mike Mackenzie is a self-made man with too much time on his hands and a bit of the devil in his soul. He is looking for something to liven up the days and perhaps give new meaning to his existence. A chance encounter at an art auction offers him the opportunity to do just that as he settles on a plot to commit a "perfect crime".
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Doors open
- By Margaret McHardy on 13-04-20
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In a House of Lies
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: James Macpherson
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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A missing private investigator is found locked in a car hidden deep in the woods. Worse still - both for his family and the police - the body was in an area that had already been searched 10 years ago. Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke is part of a new inquiry, combing through the mistakes of the original case. There were always suspicions over how the investigation was handled, and now - after a decade without answers - it's time for the truth.
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Changing of the Guard?
- By Simon on 13-10-18
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Witch Hunt
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: Susannah Fielding
- Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Interpol have tried and failed to find the terrorist, Witch. Now the combined forces of Scotland Yard and MI5 must try the impossible to prevent a major international incident. Dominic Elder carries her autograph wherever he goes. Witch is his passion, his obsession. And being retired is no bar to his willingness to restart the hunt. MI5 know that the man who wrote the Witch file is the key to catching their quarry. But the truth isn't easy to spot.
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Thoroughly enjoyed this
- By Stuart McHenery on 25-02-17
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Blood Hunt
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 13 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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It begins with a phone call. Gordon Reeve's brother has been found dead in his car in San Diego. The car was locked from the inside, a gun was in his hand. In the US to identify the body Gordon realises that his brother has been murdered. What's more, it's soon obvious that his own life is in danger. Once back in Scotland he finds out his home has been bugged by professionals. But Reeve is a professional too. Ex-SAS, he was half of a two-man unit with someone he came to fear, then to hate.
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Detailed and absorbing
- By Lindsay on 15-06-11
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The Complaints
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: James Macpherson
- Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
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Nobody likes The Complaints - they're the cops who investigate other cops. Complaints and Conduct Department, to give them their full title, but known colloquially as 'the Dark Side', or simply 'The Complaints'. Malcolm Fox works for The Complaints. He's just had a result, and should be feeling good about himself. But he's middle-aged, sour and unwell.
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Brilliant introduction to Malcolm Fox
- By Helen on 25-01-15
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Knots and Crosses
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: James Macpherson
- Length: 6 hrs and 25 mins
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'And in Edinburgh of all places. I mean, you never think of that sort of thing happening in Edinburgh, do you...?' 'That sort of thing' is the brutal abduction and murder of two young girls. And now a third is missing, presumably gone to the same sad end. Detective Sergeant John Rebus, smoking and drinking too much, his own young daughter spirited away south by his disenchanted wife, is one of many policemen hunting the killer.
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An uncertain beginning
- By Simon on 02-09-15
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Doors Open
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: James Macpherson
- Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Mike Mackenzie is a self-made man with too much time on his hands and a bit of the devil in his soul. He is looking for something to liven up the days and perhaps give new meaning to his existence. A chance encounter at an art auction offers him the opportunity to do just that as he settles on a plot to commit a "perfect crime".
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Doors open
- By Margaret McHardy on 13-04-20
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In a House of Lies
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: James Macpherson
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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A missing private investigator is found locked in a car hidden deep in the woods. Worse still - both for his family and the police - the body was in an area that had already been searched 10 years ago. Detective Inspector Siobhan Clarke is part of a new inquiry, combing through the mistakes of the original case. There were always suspicions over how the investigation was handled, and now - after a decade without answers - it's time for the truth.
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Changing of the Guard?
- By Simon on 13-10-18
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Witch Hunt
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: Susannah Fielding
- Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Interpol have tried and failed to find the terrorist, Witch. Now the combined forces of Scotland Yard and MI5 must try the impossible to prevent a major international incident. Dominic Elder carries her autograph wherever he goes. Witch is his passion, his obsession. And being retired is no bar to his willingness to restart the hunt. MI5 know that the man who wrote the Witch file is the key to catching their quarry. But the truth isn't easy to spot.
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Thoroughly enjoyed this
- By Stuart McHenery on 25-02-17
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Blood Hunt
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 13 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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It begins with a phone call. Gordon Reeve's brother has been found dead in his car in San Diego. The car was locked from the inside, a gun was in his hand. In the US to identify the body Gordon realises that his brother has been murdered. What's more, it's soon obvious that his own life is in danger. Once back in Scotland he finds out his home has been bugged by professionals. But Reeve is a professional too. Ex-SAS, he was half of a two-man unit with someone he came to fear, then to hate.
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Detailed and absorbing
- By Lindsay on 15-06-11
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Bleeding Hearts
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: Steven Pacey
- Length: 12 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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The death of a journalist from a single bullet to the heart makes for a dramatic story - but the twist in the tale is that this time, it's the man who fired the gun who's asking all the questions... The assassin, Michael Weston, knows he has carried out his assignment successfully. One mistake was enough, a long time ago, when a young girl had accidentally received the fatal bullet. Her father hired a PI named Hoffer to track him down. Every time Weston completed a job, Hoffer was not far behind.
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I prefer a good old Rebus
- By A P TWIBILL on 22-07-17
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The Flood
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: Chris Reilly, Ian Rankin
- Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Features an Introduction read by Ian Rankin. Mary Miller had always been an outcast. Burnt in a chemical mix as a young girl, sympathy for her quickly faded when the young man who pushed her in died in a mining accident just two days later. From then on she was regarded with a mixture of suspicion and fascination by her God-fearing community. Now, years later, she is a single mother, caught up in a faltering affair with a local teacher. Her son, Sandy, has fallen in love with a strange homeless girl.
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His worst book ever!
- By Brenda on 06-05-17
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Westwind
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: Julian Rhind-Tutt
- Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Europe, 1990. As the US begins to pull out its troops in a tide of isolationism, Britain is torn between its loyalties to the USA and its continental neighbours. In America, a space shuttle crashes on landing, killing all but one of the crew on-board: a British man named Mike Dreyfuss, who will become vilified by the US press and protesters. Halfway across the world, Martin Hepton, an English ground control technician watches as they lose contact with the most advanced satellite in Europe.
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What a disappointment.
- By Felixstones on 05-03-20
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Knots and Crosses
- Inspector Rebus, Book 1
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: Bill Paterson
- Length: 3 hrs and 25 mins
- Abridged
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After the brutal abduction and murder of two young girls, now a third is missing, presumably gone to the same sad end. Detective Sergeant John Rebus, smoking and drinking too much, his own daughter spirited away by his estranged wife, is one of many policemen hunting the killer. Then, the messages begin: knotted string and matchstick crosses taunt Rebus with a puzzle only he can solve.
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Fab!!
- By Tracey on 15-08-07
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Watchman
- By: Ian Rankin
- Narrated by: Tom Cotcher
- Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Bombs are exploding in the streets of London, but life seems to have planted more subtle booby-traps for Miles Flint. Miles is a spy. His job is to watch and to listen, then to report back to his superiors, nothing more. The job, affording glimpses into the most private lives of his victims, appeals to Miles. He doesn't lust after promotion, and he doesn't want action.
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Not Rebus , But also not a bad story.
- By Gary Mackenzie on 10-12-15
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Cuthbert's Way
- The DCI Ryan Mysteries, Book 17
- By: L.J. Ross
- Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
- Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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After the dramatic theft of a priceless artefact from Durham Cathedral, the rest of the world believes that DCI Ryan and his team were able to recover and return St Cuthbert's cross to its rightful home. But Ryan knows the cross he recovered was a fake - far from being over, their problems are only just beginning. Just as Ryan and his team begin to unravel the truth behind the spate of mysterious thefts, something even more priceless is stolen - something that can never be replaced.
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Disappointing!
- By Amazon Customer on 19-01-21
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Rebus: Strip Jack - Saturday Drama, Complete (Dramatised)
- By: Ian Rankin, Chris Nolan (adaptation)
- Narrated by: Ron Donachie
- Length: 1 hr and 54 mins
- Original Recording
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Ron Donachie stars in this two-part dramatisation of Ian Rankin's crime thriller set in Edinburgh and the Highlands in 1992. Inspector Rebus is investigating the death of an MP's wife when an Edinburgh man confesses to the murder of two women. Rebus, however, is not convinced. Much to his superior's dismay, Rebus ignores the confession and disappears north to investigate a wild party deep in the Scottish countryside.
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Strip Jack
- By Fav on 20-01-20
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A Snowball's Chance in Hell
- A Scottish Murder Mystery (DCI Logan Crime Thrillers, Book 9)
- By: JD Kirk
- Narrated by: Angus King
- Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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When a young man is found frozen to death on a Highland street in mid-December, DCI Jack Logan initially puts it down to a Christmas night out gone tragically wrong. But, when a postmortem reveals something more sinister, Jack discovers he is dealing with a cold, calculating killer with a long line of victims, a talent for torture, and a perverse sense of justice.
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what a disappointment
- By Amber-Rose on 02-02-21
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The Cuckoo's Calling
- Cormoran Strike, Book 1
- By: Robert Galbraith
- Narrated by: Robert Glenister
- Length: 15 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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When a troubled model falls to her death from a snow-covered Mayfair balcony, it is assumed that she has committed suicide. However, her brother has his doubts, and calls in private investigator Cormoran Strike to look into the case.Strike is a war veteran - wounded both physically and psychologically - and his life is in disarray. The case gives him a financial lifeline, but it comes at a personal cost: the more he delves into the young model's complex world, the darker things get - and the closer he gets to terrible danger...
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Entertaining and likeable
- By Dragon on 06-05-13
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The Coffinmaker’s Garden
- By: Stuart MacBride
- Narrated by: Ian Hanmore
- Length: 16 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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As a massive storm batters the Scottish coast, Gordon Smith’s home is falling into the North Sea. But the crumbling headland has revealed what he’s got buried in his garden: human remains. With the storm still raging, it’s too dangerous to retrieve the bodies, and waves are devouring the evidence. Which means no one knows how many people Smith’s already killed and how many more he’ll kill if he can’t be stopped. The media are baying for blood, the top brass are after a scapegoat and ex-Detective Inspector Ash Henderson is done playing nice.
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Superb narration
- By Louise on 10-01-21
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Still Life
- By: Val McDermid
- Narrated by: Cathleen McCarron
- Length: 13 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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On a freezing winter morning, fishermen pull a body from the sea. It is quickly discovered that the dead man was the prime suspect in a decade-old investigation, when a prominent civil servant disappeared without trace. DCI Karen Pirie was the last detective to review the file and is drawn into a sinister world of betrayal and dark secrets. But Karen is already grappling with another case, one with even more questions and fewer answers. A skeleton has been discovered in an abandoned camper van and all clues point to a killer who never faced justice - a killer who is still out there.
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The Best Yet.
- By Sadé 66 on 25-08-20
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The Dark Yorkshire Series: Books 1-3
- The DI Caslin Box Set
- By: J M Dalgliesh
- Narrated by: Greg Patmore
- Length: 28 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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The Dark Yorkshire Series - fast-paced crime fiction stories featuring DI Nathaniel Caslin. The first three full-length books in this best-selling series are brought together for the first time in this great value set.
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Wow what a bargain
- By SandraL on 30-01-20
Editor reviews
Summary
Including brand new material, this is the complete collection of Rebus short stories from the Sunday Times Number one best seller.
Over the years, Ian Rankin has amassed an incredible portfolio of short stories. Published in crime magazines, composed for events, broadcast on radio, they all share the best qualities of his phenomenally popular Rebus novels.
Brought together for the first time, and including brand-new material, this is the ultimate Rebus short-story collection and a must-have book for crime lovers and for Ian's millions of fans alike. No Rankin aficionado can go without it.
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What listeners say about The Beat Goes On
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- FictionFan
- 13-11-14
A satisfying collection...
Any additional comments?
Last year, after one of his friends died unexpectedly at a young age, Ian Rankin announced that he'd be taking a year or two off from novel writing to have a bit of a rest. I assume this collection of short stories has been issued to fill the void that many of us Rebus fans would have felt without a new book for the winter. And, since I haven't read any of these before, it filled that void very satisfactorily.
There are 29 stories, ranging in length from a few pages to near-novella, but with most falling into the 20-40 minutes-to-read zone, so perfect bedside table material for late-night reading. There is also an interesting essay at the end where Rankin tells the story of how Rebus came into existence, which gives us some biographical snippets into how Rankin himself became a crime writer.
Normally, when reviewing a short story collection, I find myself commenting on the variable quality of the stories, but I really can't say that with this one. I found each of the stories, short or long, to be pretty much equally good, and while they obviously don't have the complexity or depth of the novels, they show all Rankin's normal talents for plotting and characterisation, and are as well written as the books. In fact, because we know the main characters so well, Rankin doesn't have to spend much time on developing them, allowing him to pack a lot of story into a compact space. A few of them have a Christmas or New Year theme, I guess because they were originally written for newspaper or magazine Christmas specials. And a couple make reference to stories from great Edinburgh writers of the past – Muriel Spark and Arthur Conan Doyle – giving a glimpse into Rankin's own influences.
Each story is entirely consistent with the Rebus we know, but sometimes angled so that we see a new facet of his character, or get a closer look at an old one. They are spread throughout his career, with the first story being the most recently written – a prequel more or less to his latest novel Saints of the Shadow Bible, when Rebus was a new detective learning the ropes – right through to his retirement (which we now know didn't last long). The bulk, however, are set in the earlier period, so there's more of Brian Holmes as his sidekick than of Siobhan Clarke, who only came into the series mid-way through. I found this particularly pleasurable since it's a long time since I've read any of the older books and I enjoyed the trip down memory lane with a younger Rebus. I was intrigued to realise that, although I tend to think back on the early Rebus as one of the drunken mavericks of his day who has since mellowed with age, in fact in comparison to a lot of today's detectives he was actually both functional and professional throughout – clearly it's the genre that's shifted, rather than Rebus...or Rankin. I also felt there was more than a touch of William McIlvanney in the earlier stories, but that that influence seemed to fade as they went on, presumably as Rankin developed into his own equally strong style.
The stories include all kinds of mysteries, from shop-lifting to murder, and the occasional one is really more an observation of a particular aspect of Edinburgh life than a crime story. In total, they left me in no doubt that Rankin is just as much a master of the short story as the novel. I found this a completely satisfying collection, and one that I'm sure to dip in and out of many times again.
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Just for fun I tried the newish Whispersync feature for Kindle with this one – that is, that if you buy the Kindle book, you can add the Audible version at a reduced cost (or for free if, like me, you have a bunch of Audible credits you haven't yet used). Technically, it didn't really sync on the Kindle Fire which was a disappointment – it meant that when switching from reading to listening I was always having to find my place. Not too much of a problem with short stories, but could be tedious in a full-length novel.
However, this particular Audible book is superbly narrated by James Macpherson who, you may remember, took over as the lead in Taggart after Mark McManus died. Not only is he an excellent narrator, but his voice and accent are ideally suited for the character of Rebus and as a skilled actor he also creates different personas for all the other many characters who appear in the stories. I thought it was a first rate recording, and thoroughly enjoyed splitting the book between reading and listening. It's something I would do again – especially for short stories. A good narration can definitely add something to the original. On the audiobook version, too, the essay Rankin on Rebus is narrated by Ian Rankin himself, which made it a little bit extra-special (especially since he has a lovely voice too). I'd happily recommend the book, the audiobook or both to all Rebus fans out there, or even perhaps as an introduction for new readers to the grand old man of Tartan Noir.
23 people found this helpful
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- T
- 13-10-14
Enjoyable extra glimpses of Rebus
DI John Rebus is one of the greatest inventions of recent crime novels. The complexities of his character and the seedier side of Edinburgh he inhabits are beautifully explored in Rankin's acclaimed novels. Here we get just glimpses because of the limitations of the short-story, but they are both intriguing and satisfying. Those who don't know Rebus should find this collection an excellent introduction that would lead nicely to the novels. Continuity for listeners who already know Rebus is much helped by using the same narrator, James Macpherson. We get solid stories across Rebus's career, right back to his early days as a latter-day Saint of the Shadow Bible, having to prove himself to the other "saints." Although the stories are necessarily slight compared to the novels, some being written as Christmas "stocking-fillers," they help complete our appreciation of Ian Rankin's masterly creation. Highly recommended (and missing 5 stars solely because the novels are even better!)
8 people found this helpful
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- Jill
- 25-10-14
Enjoyable easy listening
I had, being a Rebus fan, read many of these stories some years ago in book form. However, that didn't really take away from the enjoyment of having them read to me by James Macpherson, whose wonderful narration adds a whole new dimension to the printed book.
Naturally the short stories lack the complexity of the novels, but I think they stand up well in their own right. Some are of course better than others, but they all add glimpses to the fascinating character that is John Rebus and the interesting city that is Edinburgh.
2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-04-16
Rebus doesn't disappoint
Great little stories. very varied. well read. listen to them over and over at bedtime.
1 person found this helpful
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- MaggiJean
- 02-10-15
Rankin at his best
What did you like most about The Beat Goes On?
Just perfect for short listening episodes, James McPherson captures Rebus perfectly. This is Rebus at his sarcastic, humorous and clever best. I just loved it and cannot wait for another.
What did you like best about this story?
Loved all the stories.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
All of it.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
No it was just perfect for dipping into whilst driving, exercising, ironing (ugh) , online stuff, knitting and in fact any times at all.
Any additional comments?
Please ask Ian Rankin for more.
1 person found this helpful
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- M. Dawes
- 31-10-14
John Rebus
18 hours of Rebus. The man we love for his quirks and eccentricities and determination to play by his own rules. A literary hero you wouldn't really want to swap places with (except the bacon rolls and papers on a Sunday, fingers of single malt, the vinyl collection, the fingers firmly up at the establishment). Here we have a christmas stocking filler, little insights into what makes the man. Great stuff, and really well read. I think James Macpherson is the best narrator I have heard for the Rebus catalogue.
1 person found this helpful
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- Larya
- 11-01-21
Found the works very involving and thought provoking
Liked the sureness of the drafting of personalities and this made stories very real. Dramatically everyday phrases and dialogues
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- James MacKenzie
- 30-10-20
Not up to usual standard
Have enjoyed several of Ian Rankin's, Rebus books and looked forward to this one after positive reviews. Really disappointed. Returned to beginning a few times but gave up.
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- Helen
- 03-10-20
Brilliant
Not a dud amongst these stories. I love the character Rebus, James Macpherson is the perfect narrator.
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- Wattie
- 18-06-20
short story bonanza
Really enjoyed the short stories. Easy to Listen to with very interesting and quirky plot lines.